Greene County COVID-19 Risk Level Increases From Medium to High - What do these levels mean?
Greene County Public Health (GCPH) officials have announced that Greene County has been raised to a community transmission risk level from “Medium” to “High” for COVID-19 for the week of July 1- 7, 2022, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC looks at the combination of three metrics — new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days — to determine the COVID-19 community level. New COVID19 admissions and the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied represent the current potential for strain on the health system. Data on new cases acts as an early warning indicator of potential increases in health system
strain in the event of a COVID-19 surge.
Using these data, the COVID-19 community level is classified as low, medium, or high.
People who are up to date on vaccines have much lower risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 compared with unvaccinated people. When making decisions about community prevention strategies and individual preventive behaviors in addition to vaccination, health officials and people should consider the COVID-19 Community Level in the county. Layered prevention strategies — like staying up to date on
vaccines, screening testing, ventilation and wearing masks — can help limit severe disease and reduce the potential for strain on the healthcare system. The CDC recommends using county COVID-19 Community Levels to help determine which COVID-19 prevention measures to use for individuals and communities.
According to the CDC, the following Individual- and household-level prevention behaviors are recommended:
• Wear a well-fitting mask1 indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status (including in K-12 schools and other indoor community settings)
• If you are immunocompromised or high risk for severe disease
o Wear a mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection
o Consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed
o Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to take other precautions (e.g., testing)
o Have a plan for rapid testing if needed (e.g., having home tests or access to testing)
o Talk to your healthcare provider about whether you are a candidate for treatments like oral antivirals, PrEP, and monoclonal antibodies
If you have household or social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease
o consider self-testing to detect infection before contact
o consider wearing a mask when indoors with them
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters and be sure to complete your initial series.
• Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible
• Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19. Use the calculator tool: COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation | CDCIsolation | CDC
At all levels, people can wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by personal level of risk. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.
In addition, GCPH encourages people to:
• Continue practicing thorough handwashing (warm water, soap, scrub for at least 20-30 seconds), and social distance when possible.
• If you test positive, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to report it to a GCPH nurse.
• Get some free test kits:
o Order free at-home test kits at www.covidtests.gov
o Pick up test kits for your family at the local fairs and festivals in Greene County where you see our mobile GCPH trailer. The next event will be the Greene County Fair, July 31-August 6, 2022.
o Pick up some free at home test kits from any branch of the Greene County Public Library.
• Contact the office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have questions or concerns.
Additional Resources
Visit COVID Data Tracker* to learn more about the indicators and metrics used for COVID-19 community level in Greene County. For the most accurate and up-to-date data for any Ohio county or for the state, visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov.
*COVID Data Tracker may display data that differ from state and local websites. This can be due to differences in how data were collected, how metrics were calculated, or the timing of web updates.
For questions or additional information, please contact GCPH at 937-374-5600 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
